| As we enter the month of December the holiday | | | | with focus on the traditional African values of |
| season is moving into high gear. Every TV | | | | family, community responsibility, commerce, and |
| commercial says "Buy, Buy, Buy." Some even | | | | self-improvement. Kwanzaa is neither political nor |
| suggest that you get a loan so you can buy | | | | religious and despite some misconceptions, is not a |
| those expensive gifts you think each member of | | | | substitute for Christmas. It is simply a time of |
| your family wants (and needs?) After all, will 5 | | | | reaffirming African-American people, their |
| year old Tommy ever respect you again if you | | | | ancestors and culture. |
| don't give him his own cell phone with music, | | | | Two are religious celebrations and one is a |
| video and text messaging? (of course he can't | | | | celebration of family and culture. I know the |
| read or spell but so what?) Will 13 year old Jessica | | | | history of Santa Claus and, essentially, it has |
| forgive you if she doesn't receive those $120 | | | | nothing to do with the above three celebrations |
| designer jeans? Does your wife expect diamonds | | | | and Santa doesn't relate to the present day |
| or your husband expect a Rolex even though | | | | commercialism, either. |
| you're on a tight budget? Or, hey, how about | | | | No, my name is not Scrooge and I love the gifting |
| having twin Mercedes sitting in the driveway on | | | | at Christmas/Hannukah as much as anyone. I love |
| Christmas morning like the commercials instruct? | | | | the smell of all that wonderful food, the pine |
| Get real | | | | scent of the tree, and the scent of candles. I love |
| At the foundation of self improvement is knowing | | | | the excitement of the children and their |
| what you believe and how that belief system | | | | eagerness to shred the fancy paper and get to |
| shows up in your everyday life. When your beliefs | | | | what it hides. I love the family coming together |
| are yours and not what you were told you must | | | | and talking about old times and |
| believe and your boundaries are clear, you can | | | | what-might-have-been as well as what is now. I |
| celebrate how you choose to celebrate. That | | | | love seeing the new babies, and hugging the |
| celebration may be traditional or avant guarde and | | | | grandmas and grandads and seeing how much the |
| it will be meaningful to you. You may choose not | | | | nieces and nephews have grown. But, give me a |
| to celebrate at all and that is certainly an option | | | | break. What does this have to do with Christmas, |
| as well. Being able to do this requires high self | | | | Hannukah or Kwanzaa? |
| esteem and balance in your life. | | | | Let's at least get honest about what it is we are |
| Let's look at the holidays we celebrate: | | | | celebrating and let's make our own rules about |
| Christmas: a celebration of the birth of Jesus. | | | | exactly how we want to celebrate it. Don't let |
| Hanukkah (Chanukah): the festival of lights that | | | | peer pressure or the merchandisers tell you what |
| celebrates the rededication of the temple at the | | | | to do or what and how much to buy or how it is |
| time of the Macabee rebellion. | | | | you will celebrate Christmas, Hannukah or |
| Kwanzaa: a unique African American celebration | | | | Kwanzaa. |